The Cuba Journey

It has been a few days since my last blog.  We have been on the road.  It seems to be blending all together, but I will try and remember the highlights.

The first highlight was getting locked in the bathroom.  The bus was ready to leave and I decided that I needed to use the bathroom one last time.  I went to the grocery store and they pointed to a bathroom.  It looked a little suspicious with all the buckets inside, but, what the heck, I went in anyway.  I was in the middle of peeing, when a woman was banging on the door yelling at me.  Now, she was yelling in spanish, so I did not understand anything she said.  When I tried to leave the door was locked.  Panic set in quickly!!  I was yelling at her in English and she was yelling back in Spanish.  You really need to be there to enjoy the humor of the situation.

Finally I looked around and noticed some keys.  They unlocked to door and I ran out with her yelling at me.  Never did figure out what she was saying.  No one in the bus noticed I was gone for a long time.  So much for friends watching out for you!

We finally got to Santiago after a very long winding road.  The bus is broken and the driver, Soto, needs to turn it off and on while we are moving.  Doesn't leave me feeling safe.  He is a very fast driver and one time we almost took out a bicycle rider.  I am sitting up front and get to see all the close calls.

Santiago is a big city, so we took a tour.  Jose was a historian, so he was able to give us all the facts.  All the revolutions were fought in Santiago.  Although our room wasn't great, it had a balcony overlooking all of the city and ocean and the sunset was amazing.  We were happy to leave the the big city and go back to the more quaint cities like Baracoa. 

We stopped on our way to Baracoa and was mobbed with people selling chocolate.  The chocolate in Baracoa is excellent.  We bought many bars and Eric kept eating.  The people are pretty agressive to get their products sold, so it is really overwhelming when the attach you. 

Today we took an all day hike to the caves.  We bought more chocolate!!  It was a beautiful hike but tiring.  Afterwards, I taught a few people how to play my Nepali card game.  We sat and drank beers and played cards. 

Everyone is out in the park.  We can't figure out when people work or if they do work.  I definitely have some views on Socialism.

Sightseeing Overdose

We have been traveling across Cuba and it is getting hotter and looking the same. It has been a long week between the driving and the sightseeing. Cuba is definitely a place to bring you back to your childhood.

One thing that is so sad is how the people seem to be surviving, but just barely. It seems that everyone is trying to make some side money because they are paid so little. You constantly have to be careful about trusting them not to take advantage of you as a tourist. It makes you appreciate the things we take for granted in the US and other countries.

For example, today we went on a sightseeing tour of Santiago de Cuba, which was to be $12 per person. They took us to a restaurant that was very expensive and then asked us to pay for their lunches, including a person who did nothing on the tour but drive in the back seat with us in a very old jeep. It ended up costing us double what we were told. This seems to be standard for the people of Cuba.

The weather is getting very hot, but we are off to the beach area. I am going to be smarter and wear sunblock this time. We are anxious to be out of the big city.

We found some great ice cream last night and we have been hunting through the streets to find it again. Most of the ice cream is Nestle. The fish and lobster have been fantastic. But we are sharing meals because of our money dilema. For those not reading my blog everyday, I budgeted money for one person instead of two and we have no way of getting more money. So we have to count our money and keep within a daily budget (it gets tough when things cost more than planned like above). I guess I am so use to traveling alone, that I forget that there are two of us.

Overall it has been a great vacation and I would definitely return to Cuba.

Namaste, Paula

Camaguey

We are now in Camaguey, a very artistic community and the third largest city in Cuba. Each region is unique and we are really enjoying the quaint cities. It is difficult to imagine how Cuba has been able to stay in a time warp for so long.

It continues to be a challenge touring with a group. It is my issue because of my fast pace nature, although we have one person that continues to be a problem for everyone. It is amazing how negative some people can be. I believe it is my karma to learn how to be patient with others, so I am taking it on as a learning experience.

I really have suffered from sunburn, which is really unusual for me. I did not use sunblock on my body and sunbathed after my snorkeling adventure in Trinidad. I am paying the price. Also, my cut on my leg is not healing and I am not sure what else to do, other than go to the pharmacy. I can´t believe we were staying with a doctor in Trinidad and I never asked him. I will continue to see if I can heal it myself.

I finished all the books on my kindle and let Eric use it to read. That was a mistake!!! He can´t put the kindle down because he is reading a Ken Follet book. He is already asking how to buy a kindle. That will teach me a lesson.

We are half way through our trip and are really enjoying Cuba. The people are wonderful. The food is so so, except for the lobster and catfish.

I am definitely feeling tired and am looking forward to being in my own house and not out of a suitcase, although I am only home for 6 weeks.

Namaste, Paula

The Cuba Coast

We have had a great time in Trinidad. Today we went to the coast.. snorkeled and enjoyed the sun. I was a real dork and wore a life vest snorkeling. But Eric had a hard time keeping the water out of his mask because of the waves and I was gliding on top of the water... who is the smart one now.

Life in Cuba is really slow paced. It is amazing how many people are in the streets during the working hours. I believe there is a high unemployment rate or people do not work the hours that we do in the States.

Everyone has side jobs in order to support themselves and the family. The typical salary is under $100 per month. On our street there are people selling goods like a flea market. This is just one example of trying to make ends meet. One of the ladies we are with received a marriage proposal. There is definitely a feeling that people would like a better life.

The food has been really good.. lobster, catfish, pizza, etc. We have been trying to keep our food intact down, so we try and split meals. Also, when I calculated the amount of money to take, I forgot that there were two of us... how bad is that.... I am so use to traveling alone, I did not double the recommended money to bring. Remember that we can not use credit cards or ATMs in Cuba. So we are on a budget per day.

Namaste, Paula

Trinidad

It has been a wonderful experience in Cuba. We are staying at different Cuban homes in the city and the families are so friendly and love to talk. Currently we are at the home of a doctor and his wife and son. The home is huge and the gardens are beautiful.

Last night we went to the Museo Romantico and listened to great bands and watched the people dance on the steps of the Plaza Mayor. It was amazing how well they can dance. If only I had continued my Fred Astaire dance lessons with our Twinkle Toes group!!!!

Traveling in a group has been very trying. I really have NO patience. Rather than staying with the group today, Eric and I went off on our own and had a great time hiking to the Parque de Cubana (around 9 miles round trip) and enjoying the waterfall. The group was going in the afternoon by Taxi, but we walked and saved some pesos. Eric is a trooper knowing that I could not handle walking at the pace of the group.

The food has been very different. The highlight is the Flan. It is amazing... I must get their recipe. Cuban food is not spicy and mostly consists of rice, potatoes, a meat (chicken or shrimp so far) and a salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cabbage. We did have a really good potato soup last night.

Well, tomorrow is the white sand beaches of Cuba. It should be a great time.

Namaste, Paula

Cuba

Cuba is my husbands dream vacation. It is an island still in the 50's with beautiful people, old cars, and towns that are so quaint, clean, and friendly.

We arrived in our room at a beautiful old hotel after standing in lines for immigration, money exchange, and registration. You really have to look at everything in Cuba as "part of the charm" as our guide Tony tells us.

We are amazed at how the towns have maintained the old culture. It is definitely a Socialist country with regulations on everything. Most people rely on side jobs to be able to survive, since the pay is so limited. Christina, one of our travel buddies, got a proposal in one minute last night. Some people are still looking to try and get out of Cuba to have a better (more economical) life.

The people hold no resentment towards Americans, which surprises me. I believe that, if the shoe was on the other foot, it would be different. In fact, they love to see Americans.

We are so happy that we visited Cuba before Capitalism takes over, which would happen if the US embargo was lifted. We understand that neither the US nor the Political party of Cuba want the embargo lifted. It serves a purpose for the Socialist Government of Cuba to keep the embargo in place.

We have met many Americans touring Cuba also. The people, although living at a very low standard of living, are happy as long as they have their music and dance. It definitely is a very family oriented environment.

It is one of the nicest places where I have travelled. I am looking forward to a wonderful 2 weeks of touring the island of Cuba with Eric.

Namaste, Paula

Finally Back

It has been awhile, since my last blog. It has been difficult without a computer. I have been to India and back in the US to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday. Delhi was a whirlwind, but worth the time.

It was a wonderful birthday party for my Dad. He was really happy to have all his family and friends to visit. It was one of his good days and he seemed to know everyone.

I am off to Cuba the end of the week and will have limited access to email. I will try and write a blog every few days.

Namaste, Paula

Delhi

My last evening in Paro was quiet. I was able to get my last taste of Bhutan Momo.

It was a difficult sleep knowing I was off again to India. I was ready to leave Bhutan. Although wonderful and worth the cost, I think I saw everything that there was to see. Tourism definitely is thriving and I am sure that in a few years, it will be overwhelming. Currently they control it with only one flight per day.

Once again the flight was over the Himalayan Mountains and we could see Anapurna. I really do not have any expectations for Delhi. I didn't read or surf the internet, so I am going in blind. My guide, Malagar, met me at the airport and we started our sightseeing.

I am amazed at the metropolitan city and gardens surrounding the ancient buildings. It is beautiful and clean. Much different than the stories I hear of India. I guess I am in the Capitol. so should have expected it to be really nice. We visited the President's palace and the large and beautiful government buildings.

I already started shopping and found a beautiful rug. I had to use the restroom and Malagar stopped at a great rug shop. The prices are fantastic so I will probably buy it. It doesn't take much for me to shop.

I had my first dinner and definitely overbought and overate. The three types of chicken were so delicious. No alcohol??? Apparently not all restaurants serve alcohol. Malagar is taking me to all the local places. He is great. Thanks Veronica for the recommendation.

It is morning and I have a complete day of sightseeing before going to the airport. It is definitely on the warm side. I have very few summer clothes and NO clean clothes.

Hopefully they will have internet at the airport and I can give you an update of my day.

Namaste, Paula

Paro Festival

My last day in Paro was very special. I spent the day at the festival watching all the dancers in costumes and masks. The festival was held in the Fort, which is spectacular in normal times. It is a holy festival with the monks performing the dances.

There were eight different dances with unique masks. I don't remember them all, but a few were: the black hat dance, the buffalo dance, and the skull dance. You can imagine how colorful and amazing it was to watch them.

The crowds were difficult. I had to tell one lady from the UK to chill out. She was concerned that people were going to sit in front of this one group. By the time everyone was seated, the group was 5 rows back. It was hard to fit all the people in the Fort and everyone was craming in. I guess you can always fit one more in.

Most of the locals were there to see the King and Queen. It was unusual, but they did show up for half the day. Yes, I did get to see a lot of Royalty this trip: King, Queen, Mother Queen, two princes, and one princess. I feel very special.

Everyone sat crossed legged. Most of the tourists ended up standing in back because they couldn't last with their legs like that. Interesting that it did not bother me. I guess my time at Kopan Monastery in meditation has built up my legs.

The rest of the festival is held outside, so it is not so crowded.

I sat with a group of local people and they were so sweet. The one little girl was so beautiful; I kept taking her picture. They kept offering me food. I wasn't sure what the food was so I graciously declined.

The Bhutanese people are beautiful, but their teeth are terrible. They chew this red root nut wrapped in leaves. Their teeth are always red and most have a mouth full of decayed teeth. It must be habit forming, because they were all chewing it.

Tonight was a farewell to Palden and Numgay. There were so willing to indulge me; most of you know I can be high maintenance. I probably won't ever return to Bhutan; I think it was beautiful, but not the dynamic country like Nepal.

Namaste, Paula

Paro

The last two days have been taking long steep hikes up to the most beautiful monasteries, including Tiger's nest. The first day we hiked it was so steep I did not think I would make it, but these very elderly people were ahead of me... I couldn't let them show me up. Many of the locals walk around the monastery many times as a prayer. Not sure how they do it; they are many times limping and hunched over and still walking. The monastery at the top was one of the most spiritual I have been in, even more so than Tiger's Nest.

For the hike to Tiger's Nest, my guides indulged me and we left at 7:30am to beat the crowds. Even with that there were a number of people from China at the monastery when we arrived. I am not sure how they beat me, especially since they had some elderly people with them.

But I did beat the huge crowd of tourists I saw on my way down. The Tiger's Nest is a thrilling experience and on all tourist must do lists. There are many tourists because of the festival, which begins today. Some take donkeys up the hill. It is a difficult climb for 2 hours.

I found a real coffee shop in town and really enjoyed filter coffee. They even had peach cake... delicious. The dessert in Bhutan is typically bananas or apples. Still don't think I have lost weight.

I had another stone bath in a very old rustic farm house last night. Quite the experience.
All in all I am ready to leave. I still don't feel the energy of Nepal. The monasteries are beautiful, but very similar to the ones in Nepal, except for a few very old ones.

Today is the festival and I am not sure what I will see other than more tourists. I have met a lot of people on my journey and we all said we would see each other again at the festival. I am still excited to go and will give you a summary tomorrow.

Namaste, Paula